Collapsible swimming pool enclosure



Jmzs, 1969 s. MINOT 3,4 4, 79

COLLAPSIBLE SWIMMING POOL ENCLOSURE Filed June 22, 1967 Sheet of 2 N INVENTOR. -$EVMOUR Ml/UOT arromsx COLLAPSIBLE SWIMMING POOL ENCLOSURE Filed June 22, 1967 Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. SEYMOUR Ml/UOT HTTOR/UE'Y United States Patent 3,424,179 COLLAPSIBLE SWIMMING POOL ENCLOSURE Seymour Minot, 292 Cornwall Road, Glen Rock, NJ. 07452 Filed June 22, 1967, Ser. No. 648,083 US. Cl. 135-3 Int. Cl. A45f 1/16; E04f 10/02; E04b 1/347 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to swimming pool enclosures, and is directed particularly to a simplified and improved collapsible pool enclosure particularly suitable for home pools.

Swimming pool enclosures permitting use of swimming pools in cold weather and thereby extending their usefulness, especially in the colder climatic zones, are known. Such enclosures as have heretofore been devised, however, have been so bulky, expensive, and difficult to install and operate as to result in only very limited acceptance and use by pool owners.

It is, accordingly, the principal object of this invention to provide a new and improved swimming pool enclosure that will be simple to install and operate, inexpensive to manufacture and durable and otherwise extraordinarily effective in enclosing home-type swimming pools and pool areas for protection against cold and inclement weather to permit year-round pool use.

It is a more particular object to produce a swimming pool enclosure of the character described comprising a longitudinally-collapsible framework structure guided on tracks installed along each side of a swimming pool area and including a plurality of rib assemblies, adjacent pairs of which are held in spaced, parallel relationship by a plurality of spreader arms movable between extended and collapsed positions for relative collapsing of the associated rib assemblies along the tracks, and including flexible, transparent covering material in the form of panels secured between adjacent pairs of the rib assemblies.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a swimming pool enclosure of the above nature wherein the guide tracks, rib assemblies and spreader arms can be manufactured inexpensively by extrusion of a light metal such as one of the aluminum or magnesium alloys, and wherein the covering material can be of inexpensive vinyl sheeting.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a swimming pool enclosure of the above nature including improved and simplified means for removably installing the sheet vinyl panels on the rib structure to prevent leakage and to facilitate replacement at low cost when damaged or worn beyond repair.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible swimming pool enclosure embodying the invention;

3,424,179 Patented Jan. 28, 1969 FIG. 2 is an oblique view as seen from the top of the pool enclosure, shown partly collapsed and with portions of the cover broken away to illustrate construction details of the framework;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of that portion of the enclosure framework and its associated guide track circumscribed by the arcuate line 33 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial front elevational view illustrating constructional details of the enclosure framework at the apex thereof in the front 'area circumscribed by the arcuate line 44 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary outside elevational view of the enclosure illustrating mechanical details of one of the framework sections thereof in extended and, in phantom, partially collapsed conditions;

FIG. 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line 66 of FIG. 5 in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 77 of FIG. 5 in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, 10 in FIGS. 1 and 2 designates a preferred form of collapsible swimming pool enclosure embodying my invention, the same being comprised, generally, of a longitudin'ally-collapsible framework structure 11 supporting a plurality of flexible, transparent panels 12, and being guided in its longitudinal movement by spaced, parallel guide tracks 13, 14. In an installation for covering a swimming pool, it will be understood that the guide tracks 13, 14 will be secured in spaced, parallel relation with respect to-the long sides of the pool.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the framework structure 11 comprises a plurality of pairs of opposed, arcuate rib members 15, 16 joined at apices, indicated at 17, as hereinafter described, and extending concavely downwardly, at each side. The ribbed pairs 15, 16 are held in spaced, parallel relation along their length of the framework by foldable spreader arm assemblies 18 equi-distantly spaced along and between adjacent pairs thereof. The foldable spreader arm assemblies 18 comprise cooperative spreader arms 19, 20, which, as is hereinafter more particularly described, are foldable into interfitting engagement to permit longitudinal collapsing of the framework sections defined by the longitudinally-spaced, parallel, arcuate rib pairs 15, 16.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4, 5 and 6, the framework ribs 15, 16 are fabricated, preferably by extrusion, of a strong, lightweight metal such as a suitable aluminum alloy, and are formed along their lengths with a rectangular channel portion 21 defining an interior, rectangular recess 22, and opposed, outwardly-extending flange portions 23, 24 at one side of said channel portion. The opposite side of the rectangular channel portion 21 is provided with a central, longitudinally-extending slot 25. As best illustrated in FIG. 2, the arcuate ribs 15, 16 are bent along their lengths into arcuate shape with the slotted side thereof facing outwardly (or upwardly), said slots being used as securing means for the longitudinal end portions of the flexible transparent panels 12. To this end, and as illustrated in FIG. 5, the panels 12, which, preferably, are made of transparent vinyl film having a thickness of about 12 mils, are hemmed or looped along each side to provide openings 26 fitted within and along which are ribs or stays 26a. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the panels 12 are just wide enough to enable their ribbed ends to be inserted endwise into the rectangular recess 22 of an adjacent pair of arcuate framework ribs 15, 15 or 16, 16 when said rib pairs are in fully extended position as spaced by their associated spreader arm assemblies 18. It will be noted that with this construction, rain or snow water on the outer surfaces of the panels 12 cannot leak into the interior of the enclosure, but will drain through the rib channel recesses to be discharged at each side of the enclosure.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the guide tracks 13, 14 are similar in construction to the framework ribs 15, 16 being extruded of a suitable strong and light-weight metal and formed along their lengths with a rectangular channel portion 27 defining an interior, rectangular recess and opposed, outwardly-extending flange portions 28, 29 at one side of said channel portion. The opposite side of the rectangular channel portions 27 is provided with a central, longitudinally-extending slot 30. As further illustrated in FIG. 3, a pair of bolts 31 secures a leg bar 32 to the outer ends of each of the framework ribs 15, 16, the outwardly-extending ends of which bars pass through the slots 30 in corresponding ones of the guide tracks 13, 14 to be guided therealong. Foot pads 33 are welded or otherwise affixed to the outer ends of the leg bars 32 to increase bearing surface and facilitate sliding action of said legs within and along the guide tracks 13, 14 when collapsing or extending the framework structure.

As illustrated in FIGS. and 6, the outer ends of the spreader arms 19, 20 of the spreader arm assemblies 1-8 are pivotally secured to flange portions of adjacent ones of the rib members 15, or 16, 16 as by bolts 34, 35, respectively.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the spreader arm 19 is in the form of a square tube, and the spreader arm is of channel shape defining a rectangular recess along its length of such size as to receive the spreader arm 19 in interfitting or nesting relation, and outer end portions of said arms are pivotally joined, at equal distances from their outer ends, as by a bolt 36. As best illustrated in FIG. 5, the channel-shaped arms 20 extend somewhat beyond the pivot bolt 36 to provide a seat for supporting the spreader arm 19 in extended position, as illustrated by the full line representation thereof in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 also illustrates, in broken lines, how the spreader arm assemblies collapse to permit corresponding collapsing movement of the associated rib members for uncovering of the pool area. Referring to FIG. 2, it will also be seen that the vinyl panels 12 bunch together over the outsides of the spreader arm assemblies upon such collapsing of the framework structure.

FIG. 4 illustrates how associated rib member pairs 15 and 16 are secured together at the apices of the framework structures by angle bars 37 secured as by bolts 38 against the undersides of the flange portions of said rib members. The use of bolts for assembly and disassembly of the structures by the home owner, as well as compact packing for storage or shipment as a kit to be erected by purchaser.

FIG. 1 illustrates how the ends of the enclosure framework are equipped, at each side, with end panels or curtains 40 which overlap along a central vertical line indicated at 42 whereat they are releaseably secured together, by any convenient means, to provide an entrance opening. The curtains 40 can also be of sheet vinyl, preferably opaque and provided with transparent windows 41, which can be of clear sheet vinyl.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A collapsible swimming pool enclosure comprising, in combination, a collapsible framework structure, a pair of spaced, parallel track members adapted to be installed at opposite sides of a swimming pool area, means interconnecting said framework structure for collapsing and expanding movement along and between said track members, said framework structure comprising a plurality of structural members each having a pair of outwardly extending flanges and a base, said structural members being secured in pairs forming arcuate ribs aligned in spaced, parallel, vertical planes, each of said pairs of arcuate ribs being relatively fixed in inverted U-shape, said ribs defining a central opening and a slot extending along one side thereof communicating with said opening, said interconnecting means comprising leg members including foot pads at the outer ends of said ribs and longitudinal openings in said track members slidably receiving the outer ends of said leg members and foot pads therein, a plurality of collapsible spreader arm assemblies secured between adjacent structural members and extending between adjacent pairs of said ribs, each of said spreader arm assemblies comprising a pair of spreader arms relatively movable between collapsed and extended positions, and flexible, transparent panels secured between adjacent pairs of said ribs and overlying said spreader arms, said panels each being provided with hems along opposite sides thereof, and flexible, elongated stays received within each of said panel hems, said stays being of greater thickness than the thickness of said rib slots, said opposite sides of said panels and their associated ribs being received in the central openings of said ribs for securing said panels in place of said framework.

2. A collapsible swimming pool enclosure as defined in claim 1, wherein said guide tracks are of rectangular channel shape, one side of each of said channel-shaped tracks being slotted along its length for the reception of said framework legs.

3. A collapsible swimming pool enclosure as defined in claim 2, wherein said rib members, said tracks and said spreader arms are of uniform cross-section along their lengths to permit manufacture by extrusion.

4. A collapsible swimming pool enclosure as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said pairs of spreader arms comprises a first spreader arm member in the form of a rectangular tube and a second spreader arm member in the form of a U-shaped channel of such size as to receive therein in interfitting relation said end portions of said first and second spreader arm members, the outer ends of said spreader arms being pivotally connected to adjacent ones of said rib members.

5. A collapsible swimming pool enclosure as defined in claim 4, including flexible end curtains secured to and hung from outer end pairs of said rib members for closing off the ends of said framework structure.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,549,662 4/1951 Carpenter '-5 2,806,477 9/1957 Fritsche l35--4 2,817,344 12/1957 Teeter 135-4 2,827,138 3/1958 Roy 5263 X 2,996,729 8/1961 Bailey 5263 X 3,030,973 4/1962 Ianda et al. 1357.1 X 3,240,217 3/1966 Bird et al. l35-3 PETER M. CAUN, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

